American Realism1850-1900

The Catalyst The era’s origins lie in the increasing

tension between the North and South

The Civil War prompted a shift in philosophy, literature, art, and politics…every aspect of American society.

Responses to the War Some responded with Idealism

Emerson: optimistic, full of patriotic fervor

had long warned that this would happen if slavery wasn’t abolished

Whitman: saw horrifying images but maintained optimism

Believed the war did reveal strength and heroism

Other Reactions Disillusionment

Herman Melville: war increased pessimism Believed war revealed “humanity’s basic evil”

Images of War Walt Whitman

wrote of the appalling condition of medical services

Wounded on field for days

No anesthesia Amputation and

death

The War in Literature Many historical works

Letters, journals, diaries

Very little literature produced…why? Few major writers saw the war first-hand **traditional literary forms were inadequate to

express the horrifying details Realistic novel had not been developed in U.S.

1st Realism novel about the war

The Red Badge of Courage

by Stephen Crane He was born 6 yrs. after the war Ironist: juxtapose human pretensions with

indifference of the universe

The Rise of Realism Reaction against

Romanticism Romanticism did not capture

real people and real circumstances

Realist writers aim at “a minute fidelity” to ordinary life

Wrote about slums, factories, corruption, cities rather than romantic settings

Goals of Realism Inspired by European writers Attempted to portray extreme accuracy and

detail Focused on not just WHAT people do…but

WHY Psychology Biology Sociology

American Regionalism Literature that emphasizes a specific

geographic setting Illustrates speech and customs of that region

Most famous American Regionalist Mark Twain

Realism in Journalism Strongest advocate: William

Dean Howells Realism should

Deal with the lives of ordinary people

Be faithful to development of character

Discuss social questions perplexing Americans

Naturalism Dissect human behavior with as

much objectivity as possible Scientific approach

Human behavior is determined by forces beyond the individual’s power

***view life as a grim, losing battle Human beings are subject to the

natural laws of the universe Fate over freewill

Psychological Fiction Concentrated on distinctions in character

motivation Believed in freewill more than naturalists Famous writers of psychological novels

Henry James Stephen Crane